Watch your Waste - Taihoa koe i o para

Investigate effective waste minimisation and management processes through a visit to two key sites in Christchurch.

At the Organics Processing Plant students will see where the green bin contents are processed, resulting in organic composting on a massive scale. Then, an opportunity to witness the drop zone in action at EcoDrop to see unnecessary waste being taken to landfill. Students will put their understanding to the test in a final challenge to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Programme outline

Key concepts

Waste minimisation and management, sustainability, personal and social responsibility for action, reduce, reuse and recycle, natural cycles for dealing with waste.

Lesson description/intentions

This programme is a shorter alternative to A Waste of a Day Out, suitable for younger students. Students will gain an understanding of waste hierarchy and effective waste minimisation and management processes through a visit to two key sites in Christchurch.

Organics Composting Plant – students will see where the green bins are dumped resulting in organic composting on a massive scale and experience the organic life cycle.

EcoDrop, Metro Place – an opportunity to witness the recycling drop zone in action and see the unnecessary waste being taken to the landfill. Students will put their understanding to the test in a challenge to reduce, reuse and recycle rather than dispose of items.

Possible success criteria

Students may be able to:

explain the importance of putting the right organic waste in the green bin

identify changes made in the recycling process

identify items in the refuse pit that should have been placed elsewhere

give examples of ways to reduce or reuse.

Key competencies

Thinking – students will use creative, critical and metacognitive processes to make informed choices regarding sustainable methods of dealing with and reducing waste.

Managing self – students will be encouraged to display a 'can-do' attitude in terms of waste minimisation; our aim is to empower students to want to make a difference.

Learning area

Strand

Curriculum level

Achievement objectives

Science

Nature of science

2 to 4

Communicating in science

Investigating on science

Participating and contributing

Science

Living world

2 to 4

Ecology

Technology

Nature of technology

2 to 4

Characteristics of technology

Social sciences

2

Understand that people have social, cultural and economic roles, rights and responsibilites

Understand how people make choices to meet their needs and wants

Social sciences

3

Understand how people make decisions about access to and use of resources

Social sciences

4

Understand how innovation creates opportunites and challenges for people, places and environments

Understan how producers and consumers exercise their rights and meet their responsibilities

Understand how people participate indiviually and collectively in response to community challenges